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Chapter 38 – Yang Mu

She had been brought forth, from her own residence to this hallway. It had been only late at night that she had learnt that he had been brought to trial at long last, though she had been expecting it for a while now. After all, the questioning by the clerks had taken nearly a day, though her own knowledge of his actions had been remote and her experiences, only at the end.

In many ways, being a ‘mere’ cultivator till his arrival absolved her of much of the blame. As though she was a child, none of his misdeeds had been transferred to her. At least, legally. Morally and ethically, that might be arguable, and socially, many looked askance.

But legally, she was in the clear.

Which made her pestering of Vice Minister Yu to allow her to attend the hearing and speak on his behalf a foolish action. Yet, she would not stop till they had relented and brought her here, in the last hour. Hidden by a simple compressing of time and space, she was invisible to Wu Ying, forced to watch without acting thus far.

Until such time as she was called upon, she could only watch as he faced his fate.

“Ascendant Long,” Grand Minister Ding crossed his hands before him, eyeing the manacled immortal standing before him. “I have completed the investigations into your actions. I have spoken with your companion, the beneficiary of your boon, with those affected and viewed the changes in the Middle Kingdom since your departure. We have notes of the likely changes your presence and actions you have taken will affect not just the Middle Kingdom, but the heavens itself. And most of all, I have spoken with you.

“It is clear to me, and evidenced by your own admission that you broke our laws with full knowledge that you were breaking those laws. Moreso, you have shown remorse over your actions or intention to alter your behavior in the future.”

Wu Ying opened his mouth to object, but the Grand Minister’s dao pulsed. So strong and powerful was it that even Yang Mu, not the focus and target of the action found herself unable to move or speak. That her companion managed to stay standing was impressive enough.

“I care not about any justifications that you might have that there are no other reasons to break our laws. It is your nature that concerns this court, and the actions you already have taken.” The Grand Minister sighed. “I am ready to pronounce judgment and sentencing, though I understand that your companion desires to speak on your behalf.”

Finally, the spatial dao that had kept her hidden separated. Immediately, the winds swirled around her, tugging at her robes, at loose strands of hair and bringing her scent back to Wu Ying. He inhaled, turned to meet her gaze. He brightened at her sight, even in these dire circumstances and she too felt a lightness in her heart.

Testing the boundaries of acceptable behavior, she took a step forward. The another. She managed to make it within a dozen steps of Wu Ying and the front of the hallway before she found a subtle pressure blocking her progress. Taking the hint, she dropped into a deep bow and made sure to hold it, long enough for courtesy’s sake and then a beat longer.

It would not hurt to showcase extra care and formality in this instance, to appear weaker and more subservient than she might be in her heart. Courtesies – even if they were false pleasantries – were a language of their own.

Pity that she had not been able to learn what kind of goods the Grand Minister favored, what types of gifts she might provide him. Carefully calibrated, of course, such that he might not take offense at the bribe, yet not too mean as to insult them.

The art of bribery and the sweetening of the pot was an artform in itself. It required knowledge of the target, understanding of the overall social mores and access to a wide array of goods and favors to help tilt the recokoning of a magistrate.

What a wagon of gold might not be sufficient in some cases could be achieved with a specific blend of tea. Sometimes, the favor of the most beautiful woman in the world might be insufficient as word from a long silent teacher.

Better to offer nothing than to get it wrong, though. Better to come, open hearted and clear of conscience than play the game wrong.

“Grand Minister. I thank you for your forbearance at my presence in the court. I understand that it is uncommon to speak with one such as myself, not after your initial investigation have been completed.” She judged that was sufficient for the pleasantries. The Grand Minister was known to be very busy, short on time and curt to those who wasted it. Best to say her portion and move on. “I understand that you are about to enact judgement and sentencing. I only ask that you tie my fate in with Ascendent Long’s. Though we might not be formally tied together, Ascendant Long is the companion of my heart and his fate is mine.”

“Do you understand what you are saying, Ascendant Yang?” The Grand Minister’s voice was wintry.

“I do.”

“Even knowing that my judgment will not be effected by any of your actions.” Wu Ying stirred but the Grand Minister’s dao pressed upon him, silencing him. “Nor will I commute his sentence by any significant margin, just because you have chosen to share in it.”

“I do.”

“Ah Mu!” Wu Ying’s cracked through the surroundings, carried and formed by the wind. It caught the guards and the Grand Minister by surprise, and Yang Mu turned fully to him. “You cannot-”.

His words were cut off as the world flexed. Wu Ying crashed to the ground, his knees striking the floor with a hard thud and eliciting a cry of pain. “Silence.”

“Ah Ying…” Yang Mu said, gently. “This is my choice. You left me behind once, I shall not allow you to do so again.”

At her words, the world seemed to lurch all around her. She felt as though the entire reality itself focus upon her for a moment, before a sudden inrushing of chi blew through the corridors and the open windows of the realm. Not just heavenly chi, but original chi flew towards her as her soul and body merged further and sucked in desperately needed chi to reinforce her sudden elevation.

The guards stirred, shifting in place and one of the clerk’s jaw dropped at the reaction of the world to Yang Mu’s declaration. Wu Ying’s eyes glowed with admiration, and even the Grand Minister seemed approving as Yang Mu’s dao strengthened and further.

A dao of connections reacting to a deepening of conviction and understanding on its wielder, as she understood something deep within her own soul. That she was tied to Wu Ying, not just by fate and prior events but by choice, a choice that she would make, over and over again.

“So bet it.” Grand Minister Ding lowered his head. He stared at the documents one last time, and spoke softly. “I find that Ascendant Long guilty of all charges laid against him. Consummate with the severity of his crimes and the extensiveness of them, along with his continued lack of remorse, I must pronounce the most extreme sentence possible.

“His sentence is death.”